Professor Rodderly sat up straight, one hand grabbed against his hip and pushed to stretch out his aching back, the other scratching the hair line several centimetres higher than it had been when he was a younger man. His grey eyes sparkled, his face twisting into a triumphant smile.
“Brilliant...”
The words were almost a whisper, slipping from between slightly yellowed teeth. His body collapsed back into his chair, his eyes finally slipping from the table in front of him. The figurative apple in his eye was lying on the large worktable. A metal suit of armour at first appearance; to anyone with more technical knowledge from the steam powered city Ettermire, it would be recognised as something far more complex. Beneath the steel plates of metal were components of miraculous machinations. There were valves and gears, entwined on a metal skeleton. The whole thing was powered by a large steam engine set into the huge metal chest. From the shoulders several large pipes lifted into the air. Silent now, those pipes would bellow and splutter with life when it ran.
“Now.... it needs a test.” Muttered the professor. His words and actions didn't quite see eye to eye, and the professor promptly drifted off to sleep.
* * * *
*bang bang bang bang*
The professor lowered the hammer and looked at the note he had nailed on the notice board of the citadel. It proclaimed the amazing Steel Heart ready to be tested. Fighters were cordially invited to partake in a battle with the machine; housed by the Citadel. The monks would provide healing to the challengers, Rodderly would provide money. Any fighter that lasted at least three minutes with the machine would receive a cool two hundred gold. The professor wasn't giving the money away for nothing. He was planning on selling the machine afterwards. Using the battle as an showcase of the machine's possible buyers. Two hundred gold was a pittance compared to the money he was planning on pocketing.
Dearest Fighter,
you are cordially invited to take part in the battle of the year.
The Steal Heart is the newest whoozywatsits created by Professor Rodderly.
Any who lasts two minutes will receive 200 gold.
No wimps allowed